The Madras High Court has ordered the practitioners of Indian system of medicines, such as Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha, should not practice allopath, and there is nothing wrong if police take action against those who attempt to practice it without valid qualifications.

Justice K K Sasidharan, refusing to restrain police from initiating criminal proceedings against Unani practitioners who prescribed allopathic medicines, said: "There is no dispute that Ayurveda, Siddha, Unanni, allopathy and homeopathic system of medicines have got their own history, heritage, advantages and importance...The problem would arise only when they attempt to practice the allopathic system of medicine without a degree and training".

Justice Sasidharan was passing orders on the writ petitions of K Abdul Muneer and Jalees Ahmed Siddiqi, who contended that the five-and half-year Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery Course comprised a six-month alopathy training, where they got enough training to treat emergency patients with allopathy medicines.

Claiming that the police harassed Unani practitioners who prescribed allopathy medicines and they wanted the court to restrain police from interfering with their work.

The Director of Medical and Rural Health Services(DPHS), however, filed a counter, saying the syllabus of Unani and MBBS is not similar and that persons who did not have MB BS qualification cannot be registered with the Indian Medical Council(IMC) Act. Unani practitioners' prescription under allopathy stream would amount to illegal practice and they are liable for legal action, he said.

Justice Sasidharan, said, "The training given to Unani practitioners is not for the purpose of practicing in allopathic medicine or to administer modern medicine". The judge also directed the police not to harass genuine traditional Indian medical practitioners.